Spinal Educator

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Meniscus
Tear

Call (714) 639-4640

What is a Meniscus
Tear?

A meniscus tear is a common knee injury. The meniscus
is a tough, rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee. Each knee has two menisci
(plural of meniscus)-one at the outer edge of the knee and one at the inner
edge. The menisci act as shock absorbers keep your knee steady by evenly balancing
your weight across the knee. A torn meniscus can prevent your knee from working
properly and can lead to accelerated wear of the joint.

Meniscus Tear Knee
Pain Symptoms

The symptoms of a torn
meniscus vary depending on the size and location of the tear. Since there
are no nerve endings to the meniscus, pain is due to swelling and injury
to surrounding tissues. The most common symptoms are the following:

Knee Pain
usually at the side or center

Pain usually
increases with squatting, lifting, or rising from a seated position

Can produce a
“wobbly”unstable feeling

Swelling in the
Knee

Catching or
locking of the knee joint

Range of motion
of the knee may be limited

Cause of Meniscus
Tears in the Knee

Knee Injury- This usually
occurs if there is sudden twisting or turning of the foot while it is
planted and the knee is bent. Meniscal tears can also occur with
heavy lifting, squatting, or in contact sports. Most likely to fragment.

Degenerative or
Arthritic Knees- A meniscal tear may occur in a person
over 40 who has dry, thin or weak cartilage. As the cartilage
weakens it becomes more brittle and can easily tear. It is not
uncommon for an individual with arthritis or degenerative knee joints to
tear meniscus simply by getting up from a chair or climbing the stairs.

Meniscus Tear Knee
Pain Treatment Options

The treatment for a meniscus
tear is determined by the size, location of the tear, and the activity level of
the patient. Some people respond well to non-invasive treatments while
others have to have surgery. The location of the meniscus tear is one of
the most important factors because that will determine how well the tear will
heal.

Outer Edge (Red
Zone)

The outer one third of the
meniscus has its own blood supply. Tears in this area tend to heal well. Small
and moderate sized tears tend to respond well to non- invasive treatment
options like laser therapy. Laser treatment helps stimulate the healing and
repair process by increasing blood flow and nutrients to the injured area and
accelerating the growth of new tissue.

Inner Meniscus
(White Zone)

The inner two thirds of the
meniscus lacks good blood supply, so it does not heal well on its own.
Even arthroscopic surgery, which is often suggested, may not work well
due to the lack of healing ability in this part of the meniscus. Recovery
may be difficult especially for older patients over 40 years of age.

Dr. Berry’s Class
IV Laser Knee Program

The Class IV K-Laser is at the heart of our
treatment program. It provides a safe, effective, non-invasive, painless
solution for knee pain. Patients respond exceptionally well to treatments
and usually notice significant pain relief after just a few treatments.

Dr. Berry’s program utilizes
the latest FDA Cleared Lasers, and combines them with other therapies to help
reduce the pain, strengthen the muscles around the knee joint, and increase
range of motion. Most importantly these treatments help reduce
inflammation/swelling, which helps improve overall function of the knee.

Dr. Berry has been
treating sports injuries for over 35 years and has been helping people
suffering from various knee conditions during that time. Patients seek his
advice and care if they want to avoid knee surgery or if their knee surgery was
unsuccessful. He has treated patients suffering from mild to severe arthritis,
bursitis, Baker’s cyst, meniscal tears, tendonitis, chondromalacia patella, and
failed knee surgery.